Sermon Central
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Worship A Time Of Thanksgiving
Contributed by Rickey Broach on Nov 24, 2002 (message contributor)
Summary: GOD IS INTRESTED IN THANKSGIVING - NOT TURKEY AND THE TRIMMINGS BUT A PEOPLE THAT WORSHIP HIM IN AN ATTITUDE OF BEING THANKFUL
WORSHIP A TIME OF THANKSGIVING
PSALMS 116:12 – 19
12 What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?
13 I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD.
14 I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people.
15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.
16 O LORD, truly I am thy servant; I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid: thou hast loosed my bonds.
17 I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD.
18 I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people,
19 In the courts of the LORD’S house, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. Praise ye the LORD.
DO YOU THINK THAT GOD IS INTERESTED IN THANKSGIVING?
I BELIEVE THE BIBLE TEACHES US THAT HE IS VERY INTERESTED IN THANKSGIVING
WHILE GOD IS NOT INTERESTED IN OUR TRADITIONAL CUSTOMS OF CELEBRATING THIS SPECIAL TIME OF GIVING THANKS, HIS WORD TELLS US IN MANY PLACES THAT GOD IS INTERESTED IN US GIVING HIM THANKS
EVERY TIME WE COME TO WORSHIP IT IS A TIME OF THANKSGIVING, A TIME OF US EXPRESSING UNTO GOD HOW GRATEFUL WE ARE TO HIM FOR ALL THAT HE HAS DONE FOR US
AS WE BEGAN TO LOOK IN THE WORD TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE TYPE OF THANKSGIVING THAT GOD IS INTERESTED IN WE CANT HELP BUT REMEMBER THE FIRST RECORDED TIME OF WORSHIP MENTIONED IN THE BIBLE
IN GENESIS 4 WE READ OF TWO BROTHERS WHO CAME TO WORSHIP THE LORD – AND OF EVERYTHING THAT COULD BE SAID ABOUT THIS EVENT, I BELIEVE THAT ONE WAS A GREATER ATTEMPT OF SHOW GOD HIS GRATITUDE FOR HIS BLESSINGS THAN THE OTHER
3And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. 4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: 5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
IN THE OLD TESTAMENT UNDER THE LEVITICAL LAW THERE WERE 5 SACRIFICES OFFERED UP TO GOD
EACH ONE OF THESE WAS OF SPECIAL IMPORTANCE BECAUSE EACH ONE WAS A TYPE OF WORSHIP TO GOD
IN EACH OF THESE OFFERINGS THE WORSHIPER WAS TO BRING GOD THE BEST THAT HE HAD, NOT HIS / HER SECOND BEST BUT THEIR VERY BEST
GOD NEVER EXPECTED MORE OUT OF THE WORSHIPER THAN THEY COULD AFFORD TO BRING, BUT HE NEVER ACCEPTED LESS THAN THEIR BEST ETHER
THERE IS A GREAT DEAL THAT COULD BE SAID ABOUT THIS TOPIC
BUT ONE IMPORTANT FACT WAS THAT IN EACH ONE OF THE OFFERINGS THE WORSHIPER WAS SHOWING GOD HIS THANKFULNESS BY BRINGING HIM THE BEST THAT HE HAD TO OFFER
NOWHERE IS IT WRITTEN THAT THE WORSHIPER HAD TO FEEL GOOD TO WORSHIP GOD, NOR WAS HE REQUIRED TO BE STRESS FREE, OR TROUBLE FREE
BUT HE WAS REQUIRED TO SHOW GOD HIS THANKFULNESS BY WORSHIPING HIM REGARDLESS OF HIS CIRCUMSTANCES
ONE THING THAT AS A NEW TESTAMENT BELIEVER WE SHOULD BE EVEN THE MORE GRATEFUL ABOUT IS WHAT WE READ IN HEBREWS 4:16
16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
29 And when ye will offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving unto the LORD, offer it at your own will.
WE ARE TO SHOW GOD OUR GRATEFULNESS NOT BECAUSE WE ARE REQUIRED TO BUT BECAUSE WE WANT TO
WE ARE TO COME TO WORSHIP GOD BECAUSE HE IS WORTHY TO BE PRAISED, NOT BECAUSE IT IS SUNDAY AND IF WE ARE NOT HERE SOMEONE WILL HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT IT
WE ARE TOLD HOW TO COME INTO THE PRESENCE OF GOD
Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
PSALMS 8:4 – 9
4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:
7 All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;
8 The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.
